Slow Cooker Vegetable Stew

Written by
Fiona Haynes
Freelance writer and copy editor Fiona Haynes has published more than 100 published recipes focused on low-fat and healthy eating.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Fiona Haynes
Updated 10/06/20
Slow Cooker Vegetable Stew

The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 7 hrs
Total: 7 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
161 Calories
1g Fat
34g Carbs
8g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 161
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 161mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 8g 28%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 16mg 81%
Calcium 104mg 8%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 904mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Come home to a hearty and delicious slow cooker vegetable stew that is not only comforting but also low in fat and calories. This easy recipe requires just a few minutes early in the day chopping the vegetables, and then the slow cooker does the rest.

Chock full of vegetables, including carrots, butternut squash, and mushrooms, this is a filling and nutritious stew that is the perfect comfort food for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Although meatless, there is some lean protein in the form of white beans. Serve with some crusty bread or whole grain rolls.

Ingredients

  • 3 cloves garlic (chopped)

  • 1 medium onion (chopped)

  • 2 ribs celery (chopped)

  • 2 large carrots (cut into thick slices)

  • 1 small butternut squash (peeled, seeded, and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks)

  • 2 medium leeks, white part only (sliced)

  • 1 (8-ounce) package sliced mushrooms

  • 1/2 pound small white potatoes (left whole)

  • 1 (15-ounce) can lower sodium white beans, drained

  • 3/4 cup vegetable broth

  • 1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes (such as Muir Glen brand)

  • 1 bay leaf

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Slow Cooker Vegetable Stew ingredients

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  2. Layer the garlic, onion, and all of the vegetables in a 4- to ​5-quart slow cooker.

    Layer the all of the vegetables in a slow cooker

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  3. Add the drained beans, broth, tomatoes, and bay leaf.

    Add the drained beans, broth, tomatoes, and bay leaf to the vegetables in the slow cooker

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  4. Heat on low for 5 to 7 hours.

    cover the lid on the slow cooker and cook the stew ingredients together

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  5. Serve and enjoy!

    Slow Cooker Vegetable Stew

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

Tips

  • If you can't find the tiny white potatoes, you can cut larger white potatoes into smaller pieces. You can also use small yellow or fingerling potatoes instead of white.
  • Almost any type of white bean will work well in this recipe, from navy beans to great northern beans to cannellini beans.
  • To make some of the prep faster, consider purchasing the butternut squash already peeled and cubed.
  • The fire-roasted tomatoes add a little bit of a smokey taste, but if you can't find them (or don't care for them), you can use plain crushed tomatoes in their place.
  • If you need to put this stew together quickly in the morning, do all of the chopping the night before (except for potatoes if you are cutting them) and store the vegetables in a large zip-top bag or airtight container in the refrigerator overnight.

Recipe Variations

  • To give the stew another level of flavor, feel free to add some dried herbs at the beginning and/or fresh herbs at the end of cooking time. Dried thyme and tarragon and chopped fresh parsley would all work well.
  • All of the vegetables in this recipe make for a rich and filling stew, but feel free to swap out or add other vegetables you may like, such as cauliflower, zucchini, peas, green beans, and bell peppers. You can even toss in some spinach close to when the stew is done.
  • Make this vegetable stew a special dish by adding some drop biscuits to the top. You can use a biscuit mix or a homemade recipe, and then simply drop spoonfuls on the stew before the last 20 minutes of cooking time.